The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, NPC Representing Abia State, Chief Jonny Nwnnne Nwabuisi has urged Abians to cooperate with the workers conducting the trial census, insisting that this would help federal government prepare a robust planning for the country.
Chief Nwabuisi disclosed this during a press conference in umuahia, said the main aim of the trial census is to test run their equipment for the proper census coming on 2023.
According to him, the trial census which started on 13th July will end on 30th of July, adding that the commission will test run all the equipment and identify issues if any in preparation for 2023 population proper. He said the housing census will use digital system with personal data assistance, PDA involving nine local governments, three from each of the three senatorial districts in Abia.
Chief Nwabuisi explained that "the nine local government areas selected include Abia North: Bende (Isiegbu); Ohafia ( Nkporo Etitiama) and Isuikwuato (Umunneukwu agbo); Abia Central: Umuahia North (Mbaocha Ohokobe-Ndume); Isialangwa North (Alaukwu Omoba); and Osisioma (Ahiaba Abayi Ogbuligba); and Abia South: Aba North (Okpokoroala Umunneato); Obingwa (Ovom Amairiabuo); and Owerre Aba in Ugwunagbo L.G.A."
He further reiterated the need for all Abians to comply with the census directive, including IPOB members, to increase the number of south easterners, stressing that referendum requires a huge number of people.
The state coordinator of Abia State trial census, Mr Adebayo Olayide explained how the modalities of the trial census will take, to achieve result and urged communities who have not cooperated with their staff to do the needful.
The State Director of national orientation agency, Abia State, Dr Ngozi Okechukwu noted that NOA is critical stakeholder in national development, hence, the need for the population commission to carry them along to enable NOA assist in sensitizing the public on the importance of the trial census.
Dr Okechukwu assured that if the commission integrate NOA in their scheme of activities, the mistake that happened in the past, will not happen again where many people were not captured in the first census.
She disclosed that NOA has what they called Community Mobilization Officers spread across the 17 local government areas of the State that would take the information down to people at the rural areas.
The chairman Abia State population census 2022/2023 committee, Acho Nwakanma represented by the secretary of the committee, Chief Charles Ama charged the local government leaders to be up and doing, just as he encouraged traditional rulers to assist pass on the message to the households at the grassroots.
Acho stated that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu constituted the
Population Committee for the purpose of liaising with the Federal Government in ensuring that the next population census would be seamless in the state.
He emphasized that the collection of reliable data on population is a sine qua none for effective planning and national development, pointing out that periodic census is critical to national development as government at all levels needs to know the exact number of people they are serving and how best to allocate resources.
Contributing, the state chairman Abia State council of traditional rulers, Eze Ndubuisi Nwabekee represented by the third deputy chairman, Eze Godfrey Onwuka reminded the population commission to reach out to the traditional rulers at the local governments to enable them carry the message of participation at the rural areas.
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